Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CPMA): One of the Most Common Allergies in Children

Pediatric allergy

Cow’s milk protein is one of the most common food allergens in babies and toddlers it can be difficult to diagnose.

Cow's milk protein allergy occurs when a baby’s immune system reacts negatively to the proteins in cow’s milk.

If breastfed, the reaction is to the cow’s milk protein ingested by the mother and passed to the child through the breast milk, and if formula-fed, the reaction is to the milk protein in the formula. In both cases, the body’s immune system sees these proteins as foreign and in an effort to protect itself, the body releases natural substances, such as histamines, which cause the allergic symptoms that your baby might be experiencing.

Cow’s milk protein allergy generally occurs for the first time between the third and fifth month of life in affected children, but can also develop later in life.

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE IS NOT THE SAME AS COW’S MILK PROTEIN ALLERGY

Some symptoms such as diarrhea are similar to both but lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose in cow’s milk. Cow’s milk protein allergy is an immune reaction to certain proteins in milk. Also, lactose intolerance is extremely rare before 3 years of age.

MOST CHILDREN OUTGROW CMPA AT 3 YEARS

45 to 50% of children outgrow CMPA at 1 year, 60 to 75% at 2 years and 85 to 90% at 3 years.

CMPA PEAKS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE, OCCURRING IN UP TO 3% OF INFANTS.

It falls to less than 1% in children 6 years of age and older.

FOOD ALLERGIES HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

In fact, in some industrialized regions, food allergies in babies have reached up to 10% in some industrialized regions.

CONSULT A PHYSICIAN WHEN YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS CMPA.

If, following a medical history and physical examination, there is a suspicion that a child has CMPA, the only valid way to confirm CMPA is by performing a food challenge/elimination diet using a therapeutic formula. Remember, early detection of symptoms is key.